Codifying ethics: New Labour and the government of civil servants

In July 2007, Gordon Brown spoke of the need to restore trust in government and to strengthen citizenship. Amongst the issues at stake were the powers of the executive over the Civil Service. A subsequent Act of Parliament included proposals to formalize the role of the Civil Service and required the publication of a code defining its core values. A particular way of governing civil servants was to serve wider governmental objectives, helping to renew politics and society. This chapter addresses the historical conditions of possibility of Brown?s scheme. We reflect critically on these developments, emphasizing tensions with the concern for business like and politically responsive administration in recent years and reviewing the fate of Brown?s scheme.